Space closing constructional element



June 23, 1936.` F. A. scHDLER 2,045,055

SPACE CLOSING GONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENT Filed Jan. 5,' 1935 2 Sheets-Sheetl 1 Inventar:

`lune 23, 1936. F. A. scHDLER l SPACE CLOSING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENT Filed Jan. 5, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 `filme/11'01": v i @7M Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE ELEME Friedrich August Schdler, Arbon, Switzerland Application January 5, 1935, Serial No. 552 In Germany January 10, 1934 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a roofing unit and the object of the invention is to provide an element comprising two sheets and transverse carriers supporting at least one of said sheets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reproof unit capable to sustain a load by directly connecting the said two sheets along their adjacent longitudinal edges and along their short sides as well. The arrangement is such that insulating material located between the transverse carriers and at least one of the sheets is enclosed on all sides by metal. No apertures, openings and the like are arranged either in the side walls or in the sheets forming the units.

A further object of my invention is to arrange the whole assembly in such a way as to form a unit the longitudinal edges oi which are provided with longitudinal beads. A longitudinal support co-operates with this unit and has to this effect a groove in order to accommodate the beads above referred to.

A still further object of this invention is to provide the longitudinal edges ofthe units with upstanding portions whereby the upstanding portion of the inner sheet is higher than that of the outer sheet. These upstanding portions are directly connected together and an insulating strip is preferably placed between the two sheets into the fold so as to reduce the transmission of heat to a minimum. The same effect may be obtained by forming the upstanding portions of the two sheets in such a way that they touch each other along three lines at the most. Thus the transmission of heat is considerably reduced without the interpositioh of an insulating strip.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification; but for a better understanding of the invention, however, its advantages and specic objects attained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention. f

In the accompanying drawings there are illustrated by way of example two embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a cross section of the connection between the support and two roong units.

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of a roong unit.

Fig. 3 shows the end connection of the sheets by means of a fold.

(Cl. 10S-1) transverse support ntted between the roonng units, and

Fig. 5 shows a perspective View of a support being in engagement with two roong units.

The support consists of the U-shaped main part I and the reinforcing sheet 2.. Both are provided at both sides with grooves 3 and 4, the grooves of the sheet 2 strengthening those of the sheet I. With the grooves 3 there engages an enlargement 5 of the inner sheet l of the roong unit. The grooves of the support are at the bottom slightly attened in order to permit of a slight movement of said roofing unit. In the enlargement 5 of the inner sheet there engages the transverse support 8 by means of its extension 9. On these transverse supports 8 is located the outer sheet 6. The roof load is transmitted from the outer sheet E, which for strengthening purposes is arched, to the support 8 and is transmitted by means of the extensions 9 to the grooves of the longitudinal support I. The inner sheet 'I therefore only has to support the insulation and for this purpose is provided with slight archings (Fig. 2) produced by pressing. The top and bottom sheets are connected together by the fold I0. Into the fold is placed an insulating strip II so as to considerably reduce the transmission of heat between the two sheets. The roofing unit is pressed against the support by the covering strip I2 and a bolt I3 and thus is` secured against-removal. This strip also covers the connection between the support and the plate and prevents the admission of rain water. The insulating strip I4 separates the covering strip from the support and the outer sheet 6 from the support I. The bolt I3 is separated from the support by a washer I5. The insulation is such that the outer sheet, the covering strip and the bolt are subjected to the outer temperature. The inner sheet and the support will be substantially at the temperature of the space. The transverse supports 8 will be at the outer temperature as they bear with a large surface against the outer sheet 6 (Fig. 2) and do not touch the inner sheet 'I at all. At their narrow sides the sheets are interengaged either directly (Fig. 3) by folding or the like or an end transverse support II (Fig. 4), corresponding with the cross section of the roong unit, connects together the outer and inner sheets and supports the insulating material from the surroundings. The end transverse carrier is in turn insulated from the outer sheet by a strip of insulation or suitable coatings.

In Fig. 5 there is shown a connection between the support and the roofing unit which is slightly different to that above described and is particularly suitable for assembling the plates at the place of erection. The upwardly bent portion of the inner sheet 1 terminates in a tubular enlargement 20 which overlaps the upwardly bent portion on both sides. The outer sheet 6 is at its edge bent twice at right angles so as to form a groove 2| which engages over the enlargement 20 of the inner sheet l. This shaping facilitates the application of the outer sheet and as the rectangular groove 2| and the enlargement 2i! can only contact with one another at the most along three lines the transmission of heat is considerably reduced even without the interposition of an Vinsulating strip. YAs the enlargement 20 extends beyond the upwardly bent portion of the inner sheet on both sides an intermediate space is formed between this portion and the upstanding portion of the outer sheet which may constitute an air space or be filled with a solid insulating material thus forming an insulation between the inner and outer sheets. The longitudinal support itself is also slightly modified in this construction. The side walls of the main support l are inclined inwardly, the groove 3 thereof is raised by widening the outermost bend 22 and the support is held together by a bolt I3 which passes therethrough. The lower nut I8 of the bolt presses the support l against its bottom plate 2 and under the head of the bolt may be clamped straps or stirrups which draw the support against the roof girder 23 and thus secure it in position. Y The upper nut I9 holds the covering strip l2 downwardly and is protected by a cap. By raising the support groove 3 the enlargement 5 no longer rests on the bottom thereof but the inner sheet rests on the raised edge 22 of the support and the enlargement 5 prevents lateral slipping oil?. The transverse supports 8 are not provided with an extension as they are not intended to be supported in the groove but are also adapted to rest indirectly on the edge of the support. This inclination of the side faces of the support facilitates the application of the roong units and provides an insulating intermediate space between said units and the longitudinal support. Y

The raising of the groove renders this free for any water which penetrates in wet weather and for the outiiow of this water. The raised edge of the longitudinal support is a poor conductor of heat between the support and the inner sheet which is of importance when the support is substantially at the outer temperature by reason of slight insulation. The capability of hinging of the connection is retained, as also the bearing of the transverse supports on the longitudinal supports without straining the inner sheet except by the pressure at the point of support. The point of contact between the outer and inner sheets can be effected by cross sectional shapes other than circular or rectangular. The groove 2| may for example be in the form of a square placed on edge. It is essential for the enlargement and the groove to be of diierent cross sectional shapes so that there can only be line contact between them and no contact between the surfaces, and that the enlargement projects inwardly so that an intermediate space is formed between the two upwardly bent portions,

In addition various modiiications may be made in the actual construction. The transverse supports may be of any suitable cross section in so far as this is of suiiicient strength to support a load and lits between the sheets. Wood laths may also be used as transverse supports. Instead of arching the outer sheet longitudinal ribs or projections may be provided which strengthen this thus preventing it from bending between the transverse supports. The transverse supports may be curved to correspond with the arching.

What I claim is:

Vl. A roofing unit comprising two sheets, transverse carriers located between said sheets, said carriers supporting at least one of said sheets, and insulating material between said carriers and at least one of said sheets, said sheets being directly connected together along their adjacent longitudinal edges and along their short sides, the arrangement being such that the insulating material is enclosed on all sides by metal thus forming a reproof unit capable of sustaining a load.

2. A roofing unit comprising a pair of sheets having long and short sides, a plurality of supports located in spaced relation between said sheets, insulation material located between said supports and at least one of said sheets, said sheets being directly connected together at their adjacent longitudinal sides, the whole assembly thus forming a unit and longitudinal beads along the longitudinal edges of said unit, and a longitudinal support for co-operation with said unit, said longitudinal support having a groove therein to accommodate said bead.

3. A roofing unit comprising a pair of sheets having long and short sides, a plurality of supports located in spaced relation between said sheets, insulation material located between said supports and at least one of said sheets, said sheets being directly connected together at their adjacent longitudinal sides, the whole assembly thus forming a unit, the said unit being provided with grooves therein adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof, and a longitudinal support for cooperation with said unit, and longitudinal beads on said longitudinal support for co-operation with said grooves.

4. A roofing unit according to claim 1, wherein upstanding portions are provided at the longitudinal edges of said sheets, the upstanding portion of the inner sheet being higher than the outer sheet, whereby said sheets are spaced apart to receive between them the transverse support and the-insulating material, said upstanding portions being directly connected together.

5. A roong unit comprising a composite unit consisting of a pair of sheets spaced apart and secured together at their longitudinal edges, a plurality of transverse supports located between said sheets, insulating material between said supports and at least one of said sheets, beads at the longitudinal edges of said assembled sheets, a longitudinal support, said longitudinal support having a, longitudinal groove therein, said bead engaging said groove, and extensions being supported in said beads.

6. A roofing unit comprising a composite plate consisting of a pair of sheets spaced apart and secured together at their longitudinal edges, a plurality of transverse supports located between Cil said plates, insulating material between said 70 supports and at least one of said sheets, grooves at the longitudinal edges of said assembled sheets, a longitudinal support, said longitudinal support having a longitudinal Abead thereon, said bead engaging said groove, and ex- 75 tensions on said transverse supports, said extensions being supported in said grooves.

7. A unit according to claim 1, including upstanding portions at the longitudinal edges of said sheet, the upstanding portions of the lower sheet being longer than those of the upper sheet, whereby said sheets are spaced apart, beads on the upper ends of the upstanding portions of one of the sheets, the upstanding portions of the other sheet having grooves, said grooves being of diierent cross section than the beads so that when said beads engage with said grooves there is only line contact between said beads and said grooves.

8. A unit according to claim 1, including upstanding portions at the longitudinal. edges of said sheet, the upstanding portions of the lower sheet being longer than those ofthe upper sheet, whereby said sheets are spaced apart, beads on the upper ends of the upstanding portions of one of the sheets, the upstanding portions of the other sheet having grooves, said grooves being of different cross section than the beads so that when said beads engage with said grooves there is only line contact between `said beads and said grooves, the beads being provided on the lower sheet, said beads projecting inwardly so as to space the lower and upper sheets in order to form an insulating space between them.

9. In combination with a unit according to claim 1, a composite longitudinal support comprising a pair of elements bolted together, a pair of gutters extending longitudinally along both sides of said support, said unit having curved portions at its longitudinal edges, said curved portions engaging said gutters, the arrangement being such that the unit bears on the edges of the gutters, whilst the curved portions engage therewith without contacting with the bottom thereof and serve to prevent lateral movement of the unit.

10. In combination with a unit according to claim l, a composite longitudinal support comprising a. pair of elements bolted together, a pair of gutters extending longitudinally along both sides of said support, said unit having curved portions at its longitudinal edges, said curved portions engaging said gutters, the arrangement being such that the unit bears on the edges of the gutters, whilst the curved portions engage therewith without contacting with the bottom thereof and serve to prevent lateral movement of the unit, upstanding portions extending from said curved portions, upstanding portions on said upper sheet, a bead at the upper end of said rst mentioned upstanding portions, an inverted channel at the upper end of said upstanding portions of said upper sheet, said channels engaging with said beads, and a covering strip extending over said longitudinal support, and the channels and beads on opposite sides of said longitudinal support.

FRIEDRICH AUGUST SCHDLER. 

